Blackhawks lead 3-1 as second period begins

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CHICAGO -- End of one, Blackhawks 3, Red Wings 1 and every fan a winner.

The first period was very lively and the ice seemed to hold up well, requiring only minor maintenance and no more work than most NHL indoor rinks would need.

The Blackhawks sneaked in a goal in the final minute of the period, when Ben Eager danced around defenseman Andreas Lilja and tucked the puck between goaltender Ty Conklin’s left leg and the post. Eager celebrated by sliding quite a distance on his knees, to the crowd’s delight.

The first intermission featured a return of the youth players on the mini-rink and a performance by the Northwestern University Marching Band (full disclosure: I’m a Northwestern alum and still unhappy over that Alamo Bowl loss the other day).

-- Helene Elliott